Sailing in the Saronics

[Ed Colonna]

Taking the family sailing this year in the Saronic Islands. The yacht is based in Athens and having looked at the recommended itinerary for 2 weeks it all looks very exciting. However, as I have never sailed round these islands I was wondering if anyone has any good locations or recommendations? It would be nice to feel like we haven't got half of Manchester following us on their flotillas if possible, but it is inevitable at some point. I've been recommended to avoid places such as Aegina and Hydra as they get very busy. Just small anchorages and potential places that we can get to and back from within a 2 week period.
Thanks.

 

[antaris]

Hello Ed,

I am based in Athens but I surely ain't no grand master of the area... I can tell you for sure that it is a wonderful , safe and generaly easy-going place (no piranhas, no tides, no tropical cyclones!).

Aegina is indeed really nice and possible to squeeze into if you get there early - it is also possible to anchor just north of the harbour, although you are exposed to late-night "westeries".
Hydra is super picturesque, and worth it - get there early to allow time to get somewhere else if no space (very small port)

Other anchorages are:

Aegina Island - Moni Island, Perdika and others in SW area, also Agia Marina in the E (exposed to S winds, nice water to swim),
*Korfos bay (aka Sofiko bay), very safe natural harbour, laid back
Epidavros - old and new (2 harbours) does get busy, [flotilla harbour]
Agistri Island is great, yet very small harbour in NE, anchorages in SE
*Methana has a great sulphurus white-water port (looks like milk) in the SE - and a more modern port nearby
*Poros is my favourite, safe, easy, busy and picturesque - many safe coves nearby
further South, there is Dokos island (never stopped) and Spetses Island (quite cosmopolitan and busy, like Hydra)... reaching the edges of your available range there is also Ermioni and Porto Cheli.

The Saronic bay is just wonderful and I am sure that you will have a great time! Enjoy!

 

[Neil]

Hello Ed,

Hydra is super picturesque, and worth it - get there early to allow time to get somewhere else if no space (very small port)

My only Saronic visit found Hydra port to be a hornets nest and I took one look and fled, but there is is nice bay with more room, Mandraki north and east along the coast, and a road back to Hydra town.

 

[duncan99210]

Dokos is nice but uninhabited: turn to starboard on entering and anchor in the small cove. To starboard we found too many flies and wasps to be nice!
There are loads of little coves in Poros area to anchor in within dinghy distance of Poros for shopping.
Vathi on the north western coast of the Methana peninsula is lovely but tight.
Korfos is also nice, laid lines on quay owned by the tavernas: they expect you to eat there but that's not a hardship.

 

[Melody]

There are not too many flotillas here but I suggest that you head west and into the Argolic if you want to avoid the crowds. In a fortnight you should be able to make it to Nafplion and back if you're prepared to sail a reasonable number of hours each day. Even if you don't get that far you can visit Plaka and some of the other small ports, all pretty. Kiparisi is stunning.

You can anchor in various bays around Aegina if it's busy in the main harbour - try Klima beach on the south for instance. On Hydra there is a small bay called Molos to the west of the town that hardly ever has many yachts in it.

If you're interested in ancient sites, make sure to include Epidavros in your itinerary and take a trip to see the theatre.

Ermioni/Mandrakia are good for stocking up on supplies and I think Mandrakia is very pleasant. I'd go into Hydra Town for a look-see but don't stay overnight.

Dhokos is lovely - lots of phosphorescence if you swim at night and wonderful stars with no light pollution.

Lots of other places too. You'll enjoy it!

 

[Forest Girl]

Went there some years ago, in October! Mostly all shut up! However,
Poros was noisy and busy but we found a great little harbour on south west corner of Aegina called Perdika. Very quaint and quiet. But it was October! Don't remember much else, except the pollution hanging over Athens as we returned.